Vanguards of the mine It is morning in the barracks of Karatak mines, the squads of kovalinkts are still sleeping in piles, the sounds of steam machinery reverberating through the pipes like a lullaby It is morning in the barracks of Karatak mines, the squads of kovalinkts are still sleeping in piles, the sounds of steam machinery reverberating through the pipes like a lullaby. “vreeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeew” The steam Whistle screamed, announcing the beginning of a new day of work. The barracks started growing with agitation as the squads awoke and started preparing for their work day. Katk squad woke up and headed towards their locker to get their equipment. Artk and Erna, the miners of the squad, were equipped with a trench shovel and a pickaxe attached to their tool harness, mining explosives in a backpack and a mining helmet. Shtaka and Artana, the sappers, being equipped with a bag of wall mines, an arming stick, a tool harness, a trench shovel and a mining helmet. Finally Shield and Protek, the only males of the squad and also the defenders, equipped with a tower shield, a spear and a pistol as weapons, a full armor and a few flares. The squad, having recovered their equipment, headed towards the mess hall to collect their daily rations.Travelling through the work district tunnels, lit by the radioactive blue lights anchored to the regular support arches, giving a blue tint to the normally brown and gray cavernous walls, As they walked, they talked about what they might encounter on their assignment. “What ecosystem do you think we'll find in the cave?” Shtaka asked. “As long as it’s not an armored ant colonie.” Shield replied. “I still have nightmares from last time.” “The scout assured me that it wasn’t the case.” Protek told him in a reassuring tone. “Maybe we’ll find some new ingredients!” Erna excitedly proposed. After taking their rations from the mess hall they took direction of the mines, where the squad in charge of the operations was awaiting them. Upon arrival of every unit part of the operation, the debriefing started. “Today we will be breaching into a natural cave system. The scouts have determined that a medium sized creature resides in those caves, it is likely territorial so be ready for a fight vanguards.” The officer squad then continued explaining the plan for a few minutes. Now in front of the wall to breach the Katk squad is preparing and revising its equipment. Shield and Protek making sure their armor is fitted correctly and that the counterweight arm for their shield is calibrated for combat. Artk and Erna setting up the demolition charges. Shtaka and Artana helping the others with their equipment. “Whatever is on the other side of that wall is gonna have one explosive surprise!” laughed Artk while setting up the detonator. “Explosive is an understatement!” Exclaimed Artana “You’ve set almost double the charge.” “We can never be too careful.” Replied Artk in an unarguable tone. Shield called them from the back “We’re all ready here. We’re just waiting for you.” “We’re coming!” Replied Artk and Erna in unisson. Once the explosives set, they took cover behind Shield and Protek, them being males they were almost touching the roof of the mine and with their shields deployed they formed a sturdy wall. The two males planted their shields in the ground and braced for the explosion. The shockwave made the whole mine shake and pushed the squad a few inches, the shield wall protecting them from overpressure, the wall sealing the mine from the cave disintegrating and sending shrapnel flying everywhere. As soon as the blast ended the two vanguards moved forward, without even letting time for the dust to settle, throwing flares in the cave and using their shields to block the newly formed doorway, they lowered their spears, ready to strike anything that would appear. Behind them the two miners started removing rubbles while the sappers put up the support beams. Shield and Protek looked wearingly at the entrance of the cave, waiting for any possible threat to appear. Shields raised and spears down, the dust slowly settling down as the echoes of the tunnels lowered to eerie silence, broken only by the echoes of the workers in the mine. As seconds transformed to minutes, they stayed ready, ears twitching at every unknown sounds, eyes scouting the red lit cave.. The screeching unknown creatures echoed across the passageway sending shivers down everyone's spine. Shield took a worried glance at Protek “I hope it’s not as big as it sounds.” “They're never really that big,” remarked Protek. “After all, big doesn’t move well in a cave.” “Unless it’s a devourer!” Exclaimed Artk from the back. “NOT HELPING!” Protek snapped back. Artk giggled at Protek's reaction as she put rubbles away. Soon after, the creatures arrived, more wide than tall and about the height of a female kovalinkt, just below shoulder height of Shield and Protek, thir wide mouths full of sharp teeth fenced in by two massive mandibles, their eyes replaced by two antennas scanning their surroundings. As soon as the beasts detected the two vanguards they became aggressive, growling and snapping their mandibles. Shield reaffirmed his position. “I think they’re angry at us.” “No, ya think?” Protek told him, as he prepared to strike. The assault soon started. The closest beast used its powerful back leg to leap on Protek and was quickly dispatched by a spear through its upper jaw. Another one, locked on Shield’s shield with its mandibles, received a few pistol shots from him. Behind those two, more started coming, Shield and Protek sticking shoulder to shoulder, their mirrored equipment creating a wall in the middle of the tunnel, tunnelling the animals to their spears one by one. After a few minutes, they finally stopped coming. Leaving a trail of bodies in the blue light of the mine tunnel. Protek retrieved his spear with a squelching sound, life leaving the beast in a final spasm. “I think that’s the last of them.” “Sure looks like it.” Shield managed to say between two breaths while leaning on his spear. Artk piped up right behind them.”So, we go see what that new cave looks like?” “Can you just let us take a breath before?” Asked Shield, starting to regain his breath. After a few seconds the six kovalinkts proceeded towards the newly formed passage. Moving through the bodies of the unknown species they made their way to the new cave. Disappointing, is the only thing they could come with. What they thought would be full of life, like most caves they discovered, turned out to be mostly desolated with but a few plants growing. “Well, that’s a disappointment.” Artk groaned, her head peeking from between Protek and Shield shield’s. “I thought we were gonna find some cool new plants and stuff. And instead we get… boring cave.” “What, you wanted to run amongst the flowers?”mocked Shield. “Well it would have been nice to try some new food.” Said Erna. Their shift ended by collecting the dead bodies and cleaning up the tunnel. Tomorrow would be another day in the mines, another day protecting their fellow workers from what lurks in the walls.